Bowling overshoe

ABSTRACT

A BOWLING OVERSHOE FOR WEARING OVER CONVENTIONAL SHOES CHARACTERIZED BY PROVIDING A SLIPPING SURFACE AND A BRAKING SURFACE. THE BOWLING OVERSHOE COMPRISES A SOLE PORTION PROVIDING A FLOOR ENGAGING SURFACE HAVING A RELATIVELY LOW COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION, A TOE PORTION FOR SUPPORTING THE TOE OF A CONVENTIONAL SHOE, A HEEL PORTION FOR SUPPORTING THE HEEL OF THE CONVENTIONAL SHOE AND PROVIDING A FLOOR ENGAGING SURFACE HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH COEFFICIENT   OF FRICTION, AND A STRAP PORTION FOR SECURING THE BOWLING OVERSHOE IN OPERATIVE POSITION ON THE CONVENTIONAL SHOE. THE FLOOR ENGAGING SURFACES COOPERATE SO THAT A BOWLER MAY SLIDE FREELY AND EASILY UPON THE SOLE PORTION WHILE CONTROLLING AND BRAKING THE SLIDE BY THE HEEL PORTION.

Oct. 5, 1971 J. G. RICKMAN 3,609,888

BOWLING OVERSHOE Filod Feb. 13, 1970 INVENTOR. JIMMY G. RmKMAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,609,888 BOWLING OVERSHOE Jimmy G. Rickman, 128 Castle Rock Drive, Rte. 3, West Asheville, N.C. 28806 Filed Feb. 13, 1970, Ser. No. 11,209 Int. Cl. A43b 3/10 US. Cl. 367.5 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bowling overshoe for wearing over conventional shoes characterized by providing a slipping surface and a braking surface. The bowling overshoe comprises a sole portion providing a floor engaging surface having a relatively low coefiicient of friction, a toe portion for supporting the toe of a conventional shoe, a heel portion for supporting the heel of the conventional shoe and providing a floor engaging surface having a relatively high coefiicient of friction, and a strap portion for seeming the bowling overshoe in operative position on the conventional shoe. The floor engaging surfaces cooperate so that a bowler may slide freely and easily upon the sole portion while controlling and braking the slide by the heel portion.

This invention relates to an overshoe for use by bowlers and more particularly to a bowling overshoe that is adapted to be worn over a conventional shoe.

As is well-known, bowling is basically an indoor sport and utilizes expensive bowling alleys, the floor of which is usually formed of hardwood or the like and includes an approach portion that is traveled on extensively by the bowler. Due to the expensive nature of these bowling alleys and the desirability to maintain the alleys in an immaculate condition so as to minimize bowling differences between alleys, certain rules and/or regulations have been established mostly by proprietors of bowling facilities which require that users of the bowling facilities wear a shoe which will not mark or in any way cause damage or undue wear to the bowling alleys.

In response to these requirements, the frequent boler has purchased special type shoes to be substituted for his conventional shoes for this purpose, while due to the expense of these special type shoes, the casual bowlers has relied on the owner of the bowling facilities to supply such special type shoes at an additional or rental charge to the bowler. As would be expected, this requires the owner of the bowling facilities to maintain a large supply of these special type shoes in various sizes. In addition, the casual bowler is almost sure to have to wear the shoe which has been worn previously by others and which in many instances does not fit as comfortably as his conventional shoes.

Additionally, in order to minimize the spreading of any foot diseases and minimize the objections of the casual bowler in wearing shoes previously worn by others, the owners of the bowling facilities are required to periodically, preferably between use by different people, clean or in some way sanitize these special type shoes. As would be expected, the supply and cleaning of these special type shoes further adds to the expense of operation of a bowling facility, which expense is transferred to the user of the bowling facility.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive bowling overshoe that can be worn over conventional shoes and which thereby alleviates the above problems.

As is known to any who have bowled and many who have not bowled, the bowling ball is delivered by the bowler while moving along the approach portion of the bowling alley, which movement imparts additional momentum to the bowling ball and facilitates delivery thereof by the bowler. Typically, this movement terminates in a sliding forward movement by the bowler during which sliding movement the ball is released. In the case of a right-handed bowler, this sliding movement is usually with the left foot while in the case of a left-handed bowler this sliding movement is usually with the right foot. In order for the bowler, whether right-handed or left-handed, to have a smooth delivery, it is desirable that the sliding movement be smooth, but this sliding movement should be controlled so as to prevent injury to the bowler and possible movement of the bowler beyond the approach portion of the alley into the playing portion which results in a penalty to the bowler.

Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide such a bowling overshoe with a sliding surface and a braking surface to facilitate the bowler in his bowling activity.

Further, in order for the bowler to feel secure in use of such a bowling overshoe, it is essential that the overshoe be sufficiently secured to his conventional shoe so that the bowling overshoe and the bowler move as a unit so as not to interfere with his bowling activities.

Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide such a bowling overshoe with means for properly securing the overshoe to the conventional shoe such that there is no relative movement between the two.

Briefly, the objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a bowling overshoe comprising a sole means providing a floor engaging surface having a relatively low coefficient of friction and having outside edge portions, a toe means connected to the edge portions of the sole means for receiving and supporting the toe of a conventional shoe, 3. heel means providing a floor engaging surface having a relatively high coefficient of friction and being operatively connected to the sole means for receiving and supporting the heel of the conventional shoe, and strap means for securing the bowling overshoe in operative position on the conventional shoe.

The sole and heel means of the bowling overshoe cooperate so that the bowler may slide freely upon the sole means of the bowling overshoe while controlling and braking the slide by the heel means.

The bowling overshoe of the present invention is preferably made adaptable for wearing over various size conventional shoes by rendering the toe and strap means adjustable and including adjustable means for interconnecting the heel means and the sole means in operative relation so that the bowling overshoe may be adjusted lengthwise for Wearing over various size conventional shoes.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling overshoe constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown being worn over a conventional shoe on a wearers foot;

FIG. 2 is a reduced perspective view of the bowling overshoe of FIG. 1 and shown in an inoperative condition in readiness for being worn over a conventional shoe as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bowling overshoe of FIG. 2 looking in a different direction; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated a bowling overshoe, generally indicated at 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in FIG. 1 worn over a conventional shoe C which includes a toe portion T, a body portion B, a heel portion H, and a sole S. The bowling overshoe illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is constructed for wearing over a conventional right-footed shoe C. However, it will be apparent that the same construction applies to a bowling overshoe for wearing over a conventional left-footed shoe with modifications that will be apparent to one skilled in the art and this invention is intended to cover both left and rightfooted bowling overshoes.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 24, the bowling overshoe 10 comprises a sole 11 of a shape to substantially conform to the sole S of a conventional shoe C and is preferably of unit construction and of substantially uniform thickness throughout. The sole 11 includes edge portions with opposite edge portions 12 and 13 converging at one end thereof in a generally parabolic configuration to define an apex portion 14 at the forward end thereof. The sole 11 is formed of a material having a relatively low coefiicient of friction such as relatively soft leather and provides a low friction floor engaging surface, the importance of which will hereinafter be explained.

Toe means, generally indicated at 20, is operatively connected to the forward end of the sole 11 for receiving and supporting the toe portion T of a conventional shoe C and, preferably, as illustrated is adjustable for receiving the toe portion T of various size conventional shoes C. More particularly, the toe means 20 preferably comprises three interconnecting straps 21, 22 and 23 which may be formed of the same material as the sole 11. Straps 21, 22 and 23 are connected to opposite converging edge portions 12 and 13 and the apex portion 14 of sole 11, respectively, by suitable means such as sewing, as illustrated, riveting, adhesive bonding or the like. The straps 21, 22 and 23 extend upwardly and inwardly from the opposite edge portions 12 and 13 and apex portion 14 to unite and cooperate with the sole 11 to form a cup or the like on the forward end of sole 11 for receiving and engaging the toe portion T of a conventional shoe C.

Preferably, as indicated, the straps 21, 22 and 23 are adjustably interconnectable as by an adjustable conventional friction buckle 25. Buckle 25 is carried by strap 21 and is employed to interconnect strap 21 with straps 22 and 23, as illustrated. Thus, the toe portion T of various size conventional shoes C may be positioned within the toe means 20 so that the end of the toe portion T engages strap 23 which strap prevents forward movement of any of various size conventional shoes C relative thereto and the tightness of straps 21 and 22. on the toe portion T thereof may be controlled to prevent lateral movement of the toe portion T of the conventional shoes C relative to the bowling overshoe 10. It will be seen that the space between straps 21, 22 and 23 adjacent opposite edge portions 12 and 13 allows various shaped toe portions T of conventional shoes C to be received against strap 23.

A self-adjusting elastic member or band 26 is preferably connected to the end of sole 11 remote from the apex portion 14 and toe means 20 by suitable means such as sewing. This elastic member 26 interconnects the sole 11 with a heel means, generally indicaed at 30, of the bowling overshoe 10. The heel means 30 comprises a heel lining 31 which is also connected by suitable means such as sewing to the elastic band 26 and has a configuration for receiving thereon the heel portion H of a conventional shoe C. The lining 31 may be formed of any material such as soft leather from which the sole 11 is formed so that when the bowling overshoe 1G is worn over a conventional shoe C, the sole 11 and lining 31 cooperate to provide uniform frictional contact with the conventional shoe 0.

A heel member 32 is superimposed on one side of the lining 31 by suitable means such as an adhesive and like the sole 11 provides a floor engaging surface. However, unlike the sole 11, the heel member 32 is formed of a material having a relatively high coefiicient of friction, such as hard rubber or the like, which in addition to having a relatively high coefficient of friction will not mark or damage the floor of the bowling alley.

On the other side of the lining 31 there is means which cooperate with the toe means 20 for embracing the heel portion H of a conventional shoe C. As illustrated, the embracing means consists of an upstanding wall or heel piece 34 which extends upwardly from the free edges of lining 31 to which it is connected by suitable means such as sewing for embracing substantially the entire heel portion H of a conventional shoe C as illustrated in FIG. 1 to prevent both lateral and longitudinal displacement or shifting movement of the conventional shoe C. Furthermore, due to the elastic band 26 which interconnects the sole 11 and heel means 30, the bowling overshoe 10 may be adjusted lengthwise and worn over various length conventional shoes C.

The bowling overshoe 10 further includes strap means, generally indicated at '40, for securing the bowling overshoe ltl in an operative position on the conventional shoe C which in addition to positioning and maintaining the bowling overshoe 10 in an operative position provides for easy donning and removal of the bowling overshoe 10. As illustrated, the strap means 40 includes a pair of opposed and cooperating straps 41 and 42 which are preferably pivotally connected at one end, by suitable rivets or the like, to the free and spaced apart marginal ends of heel piece 34 as at 43 and 44, respectively. The straps 41 and 42 are adjustably interconnectable by a conventional friction buckle 45 that is carried by strap 42. Straps 41 and 42 may as illustrated in FIG. 1 be positioned or extended around the body portion B of a conventional shoe C or ankle of the wearer for securing the bowling overshoe 10 to various size conventional shoes C.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the bowling overshoe 10 of this invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, may be Worn over various size conventional shoes C, does not move relative to the conventional shoe C with which it is being worn and may be readily donned and removed as desired. Furthermore, the bowling overshoe 10 of the present invention includes both low and high friction floor engaging surfaces which cooperate for use by the bowler to facilitate the bowler in his or her bowling activities. More particularly, as previously discussed, during the delivery of the ball by the bowler, he or she, as the case may be, whether righthanded or left-handed may slide freely and easily on the relatively low friction floor engaging surface provided by the sole 11 while controlling the slide by the relatively high friction floor engaging surface provided by the heel 32 of the bowling overshoe 10.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling overshoe for wearing over conventional shoes and being characterized by providing a slipping surface and a braking surface, said overshoe comprising:

a sole providing a door engaging surface having a relatively low coefiicient of friction and having outside edge portions converging toward each other to define an apex portion,

a toe means connected to said edge portions of said sole means for receiving and supporting the toe of a conventional shoe, said toe means comprising adjustable strap means for adjustably interconnecting said opposite edge portions and said apex portion of said sole means for receiving and supporting the toe of various size conventional shoes,

a heel means providing a floor engaging surface having a relatively high coefficient of friction and being operatively connected to said sole means for receiving and supporting the heel of a conventional shoe, said heel means including means for embracing substantially the entire heel portion of the conventional shoe to prevent lateral or longitudinal displacement of said bowling overshoe relative to the conventional shoe and cooperating with said toe means for preventing relative shifting movement between said bowling overshoe and the conventional shoe, and

strap means connected to said heel means for extending around the conventional shoe and cooperating with said toe means for securing said bowling overshoe in operative position over the conventional shoe, said strap means comprising an adjustable ankle strap carried by said heel embracing means,

said sole means and said heel means cooperating so that a bowler may freely and easily slide upon the sole means of said bowling overshoe while controlling and braking the slide by said heel means.

2. A bowling overshoe, as set forth in claim 1, including elastic means interconnecting said sole means and said heel means so that said bowling overshoe is adjustable lengthwise for receiving various size conventional shoes.

3. A bowling overshoe for wearing over conventional shoes and being characterized by providing a slipping surface and a braking surface, said overshoe comprising:

a sole means providing a floor engaging surface having a relatively low coefiicient of friction and having outside edge portions,

an adjustable toe means connected to said edge portions of said sole means for receiving and supporting the toe of various size conventional shoes,

a heel means for receiving and supporting the heel of various size conventional shoes and providing a floor engaging surface having a relatively high coefiicient of friction,

adjustable means interconnecting said heel means to said sole means in operative relation to said toe means so that said bowling overshoe will be adjustable lengthwise for receiving various size conventional shoes received in said toe means, and

adjustable strap means connected to said heel means for extending around various size conventional shoes and cooperating with said toe means for securing said bowling overshoe in operative position on various size conventional shoes,

said sole means and said heel means cooperating so that a bowler may slide freely and easily upon the sole means of said bowling shoe while controlling and braking the slide by said heel means.

4. A bowling shoe, as set forth in claim 3, wherein opposite of said edge portions of said sole means converge toward each other to define an apex portion and said toe means comprises adjustable strap means for adjustably interconnecting said opposite edge portions and said apex portion of said sole means; wherein said heel means includes means for embracing substantially the entire heel portion of various size conventional shoes; and wherein said means interconnecting said heel means and sole means comprises elastic means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,187,778 6/1916 Paskett 367.5

3,011,272 12/196l Goldenberg 362.5 T

FOREIGN PATENTS 8,908 1909 Great Britain 36-25 T PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 362.5 T

-------*-ug|n\,n rlcm; ncrunr. MAIL'NLI IHI: lYVtU (.LkRTIFlCATl-i TO THE ENT CE E UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 09 Dated O tober 5, 1971 Inventor(s) Jimmv G. Rickman It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The line numbers as listed below are actual lines in the patent.

Column 4, line 60 after 'sole" insert -means-.

Signed and sealed this ll th day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MELETQHEEJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng OfflCGI Commissioner of Patents 

